The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-04-07
from the family residence on Sunday, Rev
Mr.. Murray conducting the services.

Mr. James O 'Meaia. an excellent either
and gallant soldier, died of pneumonia at
his home near + oily Mills on Monday. III
leaves large and helpless family and yer.
many friends. The remains were burie'
in Thornrose on Tuesday.
The Trial of Coyner.
The trial of T. J. s. Coyner to determine
his sanity or insanity, has been occupying
the time of the County Court during thu
past week. In this case the counsel TO
the accused have the opening and closing
In support of the plea Of insanity at thu
time of the killing and at this time, mum
Der of witnesses were introduced. the fol
lowing parties having testified: G. E
Kemper, w. d. Hanger, w. A. Hudson
Robert Kerse, Catharine Dickinson, {. D.
A. Curry, G. S. Roller. Primus Bowles, G
A. Coyner, J. W. Parish, Stuart Fields
Cyrus Fields, Thos. Salisbury, J. A. Ian
drum, G. D. Myers, Evaline Ayres, w. H.
Bailey, John Key. George E. Schmucker,
G.. A. Hutcheson, II. c. Tinsley, DR.. ]. G.
Cabell, Absalom Koiner. DR.. ]. S. ?. Glib
son, w. A. Freed, Charles Yancey, W. A.
Wilson, G. B. Coiner, VIM. Washington
Samuel Sheffey, J. X. Keiser, DR.. I. w.
Shelton, Samuel Life. DR.. A. Fl. Weir, DR..
r. S. Hamilton.
The whole tendency of the testimony was
to the effect that as a school boy Coyner
was unusually bright, and as a inguist al
most a genius. AT the same time he was
regarded as odd.o Of an exceedingly
sensitive temperament. reticent and slilrk-
ing, not to say cowardly, he took no part
in school boy sports, and rather Stunned
the society of his fellows. After leaving
the Augusta Male Academy he entered the
Uniyersityof Virginia and graduated With
distinction on several tickets. After his
return about 1882, was first developed pro
nounced symptoms of insanity. These
were manifest to such degree that several
friends urged his incarceration in an asy-
lum, declaring him to be irresponsible for
his acts. Shortly afterwards he spent some
time in the West, and after his return to
Virginia, his actions upon various occa-
sions, recited by the witnesses, were such
as to leave no doubt upon the minds OF
those who saw him, that he was not only a
llnatic but very dangerous one. This
conclusion was reached from his wild, in
coherent talk, his announced plans, and
conduct at home and elsewhere, recOncll.
able with no other theory. Not one of the
witnesses examined on behalf of the ac-
cused had the slightest doubt of his in
sanity.
On the part of the Commonwealth, a large
number of witnesses testified. Among the
number We're Sam L. Wampler, D. S. Bell
w. w. Slower, F. M. Bell, j. A. Woodson
w. E. Hamilton, Thompson S. Brown
H. A. s. Hamilton, j. E. Hamilton, H. II
Hamilton, Jno. I. Hanger, Jno. w. Fauver
Elias Riddleberger, Chap. Loving w. 7
Mari, DR.. S. H. bold, DR.. M. G.. Hide
brand, A. A. Arnold, J. E. Lickliter. Mrs
VIM. M. Brown, Alex. Bruce, VIM. Hug
gins, J. R. Craig.J. w. Il. Parker, John
T. Long, VIM. Trainer, Thos. Hounihan
j. FL. Waters, Samuel Cohen, J. A. Bren
naman, Edward Brown, Logan Turner
In support Of their opinions numerous con
versauions and incidents connected Will
the accused we're referred to, together witt
contracts made and letters written by him
| They thought him capable CT judging be-
tween right and wrong and responsible fol
| his acts.
At the close of the testimony Drs. Ham
iltoD, Weir, and Shelton, who had listen
ed to the entire evidence. were recalled az
experts and testified that in their opinion
as physicians. there was no room TO doubt
the insanity of Coyner at the time Of The
killing and at this time. The testimon.
of the witnesses for the Commonwealth
did not in the least affect this theory
for the reason that violent lunatics fire.
quently had lucid intervals during which
| it would be difficult to detect any evidences
of arrangement. 1t was during these in
tervals that the witnesses for the Com
monwealth saw the accused.
| L Ho afgutnoHt III uAe cstoo oooupieu ehS
greater part of yesterday, able speeches
being made in behalf of the accused ty A
c. Braxton. Esq, and G. NJ. Cochran, il
Esq, and for the Commonwealth by Meade
F.. White, Esq. At the conclusion of thu
argument the jury retired and in FIVE min
utes brought in a verdict finding Coynel
! insane at this time and at the time of TIL,
killing. October Is, 1885.
The court reserved Judgment until to
day. In the discretion of the Judge, Coy
ner'can now either be discharged or com
mitted to the asylum.
The Local 9ptioa ELECTION.
After a campaign of unusual activity